credit: wikipedia /    Flag of the African Union

By Gary Raynaldo         DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED   NATIONS  –     The African Union has suspended Sudan’s membership “with immediate effect”, as deadly violence grips the Horn of Africa nation’s capital with dozens reported killed.  The capital city Khartoum has experienced the deadliest violence this week since the army overthrew the authoritarian government of Sudan President Omar Hassan  al-Bashir in April.  Opposition activists  claimed a paramilitary group has killed 108 people this week. Many Sudanese remain skeptical that the new military coalition will protect the democratic aspirations of people.  The African Union quickly got involved and has been playing an active role to assure that the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people are upheld.

 AU Peace and Security Council Suspends Sudan Membership Amid Deadly Violence

The #AU Peace and Security Council has with immediate effect suspended the participation of the Republic of #Sudan in all #AU activities until the effective establishment of a Civilian-led Transitional Authority, as the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis pic.twitter.com/ioBlnfnxcl

— African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) June 6, 2019

“The AU Peace and Security Council has with immediate effect suspended the participation of the Republic of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a Civilian-led Transitional Authority, as the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis,”  the AU tweeted Thursday.

Just days after al-Bashir was overthrown form power,  Lt. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced that the military would give civil society rule of the country within two years.  The Sudanese people, who waited three decades for the yoke of al-Bashir to be lifted, can wait no longer for democratic rule. The AU announced on April 23  it will allow the army three months to transfer power to civil rule.

 United Nations Pulls Civilian Staff Out Of Sudan Amid Violence

Credit:  By Gary Raynaldo /  UN world headquarters in  New York.

The United Nations said Wednesday it is temporarily removing some civilian staff from Sudan because of the security situation in the country.

“The United Nations system and the Special Adviser of the Secretary‑General, Nicholas Fink Haysom, are in daily communications to coordinate our work internally and engage in discreet dialogue with all key stakeholders, including on both sides of the conflict.  We are in close contact with our partners in the African Union.  We are fully committed to supporting the initiative of the African Union Chairperson to reinvigorate inclusive dialogue over the transfer of power to a civilian‑led transitional authority.  The United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese stakeholders in their efforts to build lasting peace.”

-Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General  António Guterres said Thursday June 6, 2019.